Upcoming Submission Calls
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Call for Submissions: The Dichotomy of Love
Love and hate. Devotion and destruction. Tenderness and fury. Two sides of the same brilliant, burning coin.
For our upcoming anthology, The Dichotomy of Love, we’re seeking stories, poems, and essays that explore the razor-thin line between the emotions that move us most. Passion is the thread that ties these opposites together—and we want to see how you interpret it.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome:
- Short stories (1,000–4,000 words)
- Flash fiction (up to 1,000 words)
- Poetry (up to 3 poems per submission)
- Creative nonfiction or personal essays (up to 3,000 words)
Multiple submissions are welcome.
Your piece may be:
- Dark
- Tender
- Haunting
- Hopeful
- Tragic
- Whimsical
- Heartbreaking
- Transformational
Genre is wide open—literary, fantasy, gothic, speculative, romance, mystery, folklore-inspired, contemporary, horror-lite… everything is welcome except erotica or explicit sexual content.
We’re looking for depth, emotion, contrast, and the raw spark that makes love and hate feel like mirror-flames of the same fire.
Theme Inspiration
Think:
- Love turning to rage
- Hatred disguising devotion
- Passion’s ability to heal or destroy
- The lovers who toe the line between harmony and chaos
- The family ties that bind and burn
- The fierce loyalty that borders on obsession
- The painful beauty of bittersweet affection
Interpret the theme as boldly or subtly as you choose.
Submission Guidelines
- SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN NOW!
- Deadline: December 31, 2025
- Anticipated release date: January 15, 2026
- Format: Standard manuscript format (12pt, double-spaced for prose)
- File Types: .doc, .docx, or .pdf
- Submit To: submissions@lowellandbenson.com
- Subject Line: DICHOTOMY – [Your Name] – [Title]
- Payment: contributor copy of ebook and discounted rates on the paperback
- Rights: author retains all rights.
Who Should Submit
Writers who:
- Feel deeply
- Write boldly
- Aren’t afraid of emotional complexity
- Want to tell stories that ache, burn, and glow
Whether you’re emerging or established, this anthology is open to voices ready to dissect passion in all its tangled, beautiful forms.
Ready to Submit?
Light your match. Show us both sides of the flame.
Roots & Rivers: A Journey Through World Folklore
A Global Anthology of Tales, Fables, and Mythic Storytelling
Lowell & Benson Publishing invites writers from around the world to submit original fiction inspired by folklore, myth, and cultural storytelling traditions for our upcoming anthology Roots & Rivers: A Journey Through World Folklore.
This collection will celebrate the enduring power of stories that have traveled across generations — tales rooted in ancient soil and carried forward like rivers through time.
We are seeking fresh retellings, reimagined myths, original fables, and folklore-inspired short fiction that draw upon the rich narrative traditions of your heritage, history, or imagination.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome:
Folklore-inspired short fiction (1,000–6,000 words)
Original stories that echo the tone, themes, or archetypes of cultural folklore.
Retellings of myths or legends
Creative reinterpretations — ancient stories told in new ways.
Invented folklore
Stories that feel timeless even if they are brand new.
Fables with a modern or classic twist
Animal tales, moral lessons, trickster stories, etc.
Tone & Style We Love
- Lyrical, atmospheric storytelling
- Mystical or magical realism
- Worlds shaped by nature, history, spirits, or tradition
- Heart, wisdom, and wonder
- Stories that feel like they could be told around a fire or passed from generation to generation
- Global perspectives
- Cozy, haunting, or epic—we are open!
*****Important Note on Cultural Representation*****
We strongly encourage submissions rooted in: your own culture, your family’s heritage, and your region’s historical stories.
If you draw inspiration from a culture not your own, please do so respectfully, with thoughtful research, and avoid stereotypes or sacred traditions that should not be fictionalized.
Submission Guidelines
- Word Count: 1,000 – 6,000 words
- Genre: Folklore-inspired fiction, fable, mythic fantasy
- Original Work Only: no AI-generated writing. If your piece was previously published, please only submit if you have the rights to the work and please let us know when and where it was previously published.
- Simultaneous Submissions: Allowed — notify us if accepted elsewhere
- Multiple Submissions: Up to 3 pieces per author
Format
- Standard manuscript format (12pt font, double-spaced, .doc or .docx)
- Include a brief author bio (50–100 words) & photo/logo
- Include a note on what folklore or tradition inspired the story
Payment & Rights
- Payment: one eBook and discounted pricing on paperbacks
- Rights: Author retains all rights.
Timeline
- Submissions Open: March 15, 2026
- Submissions Close: April 15, 2026
- Acceptances Sent: May 2026
- Publication Date: June 2026
How to Submit
Send your story as a .doc or .docx attachment to:
submissions@lowellandbenson.com
Subject line: ROOTS & RIVERS – [Story Title] – [Your Name]
- Whether your tale springs from your homeland, your childhood, or the wild river of your imagination, we’d be honored to read it.
Questions?
Please direct any questions to Lucy Harrelson at:
lucy@lowellandbenson.com
Subject: Hearth & Lantern Inquiry